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Russian convoy arrives in Ukraine amid shelling reports

NATO officials on Friday said Moscow sent Russian-manned artillery units into Ukraine territory in recent days and was using them to shell Ukrainian forces in a "major escalation" of Russian involvement in the disputed region.

A local resident holds a Russian national flag as lorries, part of a Russian humanitarian convoy, cross the Ukrainian border at the Izvarino custom control checkpoint on Aug. 22, 2014.(Photo: Sergey Venyavsky, AFP/Getty Images)

NATO officials said on Friday that Moscow has sent Russian-manned artillery units into Ukraine in recent days and was using them to shell Ukrainian forces as part of a "major escalation" of Russian involvement in the disputed region.

The allegations came as a Russian convoy carrying "humanitarian cargoes" defied the Ukrainian government and International Committee of the Red Cross by crossing the border and arriving in Luhansk, the separatists' stronghold in eastern Ukraine.

U.S. deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes warned Russia to remove the convoy from Ukraine or "face additional costs and consequences" from the United States and its allies.

Rhodes also condemned the firing of artillery from Russia into Ukraine and a "disturbing movement of Russian artillery and military equipment" into the country.

Friday night, Russia's state-run Itar-Tass news agency announced that the convoy had reached Luhansk and was unloading 2,000 metric tons of grain, sugar, baby food), medications, sleeping bags and portable power generators, according to an official of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.

The report put the size of the convoy at 262 trucks, not the 280 reported by the Ukrainian government.

"Unloading of humanitarian cargoes has started. The cargoes will then be distributed among residents," an unnamed city official said. Itar-Tass added that he did not rule out that some of the aid would be sent to Donetsk, another self-declared People's Republic.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen condemned Russia for sending the unauthorized humanitarian aid convoy into Ukraine on Friday without the involvement of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Kiev government called the advance by an estimated 280 Russian trucks into Ukrainian territory a "direct invasion."

Rasmussen, who recently visited Ukraine, said in a statement from Brussels that Russia's "blatant breach" of its international commitments "can only deepen the crisis in the region, which Russia itself has created and has continued to fuel."

"These developments are even more worrying as they coincide with a major escalation in Russian military involvement in Eastern Ukraine since mid-August, including the use of Russian forces," he added. "In addition, Russian artillery support – both cross-border and from within Ukraine – is being employed against the Ukrainian armed forces."

He said large quantities of advanced weapons, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery.had been transferred recently to separatist groups in eastern Ukraine.

"Moreover, NATO is observing an alarming build-up of Russian ground and air forces in the vicinity of Ukraine," Rasmussen said.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the Western alliance had received numerous reports of the direct involvement of Russian forces, "including Russian airborne, air defense and special operations forces in eastern Ukraine," The New York Times reported.

"Russian artillery support — both cross-border and from within Ukraine — is being employed against the Ukrainian armed forces," she said.

The NATO warnings come as Ukrainian troops have begun to gain ground against Russian-backed separatists in their battles over the disputed area since April.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko are scheduled to meet next week in Minsk, Belarus, on the sidelines of a regional economic summit, to discuss the instability in Ukraine.

The controversial Russian aid convoy left Moscow Aug. 12 with 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid, including baby food, medicine, grain, sugar, sleeping bags and other items, Russia's government-run RIA Novosti reports. The vehicles, covered with white tarps, have been stuck at a border crossing in a dispute between Russia and Ukraine over inspection of the vehicles.

Several of the trucks on Friday reached the besieged city of Luhansk, which has been without water or electricity for several weeks.

The Russian foreign ministry, in a statement on its web site, said Russia took unilateral action to get the convoy moving and accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying the aid. "The Russian side has decided to act," the foreign ministry said.

Only 34 Russian vehicles had received initial approval from Ukraine on Thursday to proceed but were awaiting a final green light. Ukraine had refused to allow the vehicles to cross without inspection and said it would allow them to proceed with only a single driver per vehicle aboard, not a team.

An Associated Press reporter saw a priest blessing the first truck in the convoy at the rebel-held checkpoint and then climbing into the passenger seat. A rebel commander on the scene said 34 trucks had gone through. On the Russia side of the border, an AP reporter counted another 32 vehicles going into the customs zone.

An Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) representative watches the Ukrainian artillery withdrawal near Vasiukovka, Ukraine, in the Donetsk area on Feb. 27, 2015. Ukraine is withdrawing heavy weapons from its front line in the east in order to test whether a peace plan with Russian-backed separatists can work. Anastasia Vlasova, European Pressphoto Agency

A woman in traditional costume lays flowers at the temporary memorial for Maidan activists who were killed during anti-government protest one year ago in Kiev, Ukraine. Sergey Dolzhenko, European Pressphoto Agency

A boy climbs on a Russia-made trophy artillery rocket system, seized by the Ukrainian troops, at an open-air exhibition in front of the golden-domed St Michael Cathedral, in Kiev, Ukraine. Efrem Lukatsky, AP

A handout photo taken and released by the Presidential press-service shows Ukrainian President Petro Posroshenko greets a wounded serviceman during his visit to military hospital in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine, on Feb. 21. Michail Palinchak, AFP/Getty Images

The statue of Goddess Bereginya is illuminated by lights placed where 100 activists were killed during the 2014 anti-government protests on Feb. 20 at Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine. Sergey Dolzhenko, European Pressphoto Agency

A pro-Russian rebel walks through a destroyed position of Ukrainian forces near the eastern Ukrainian city of Debaltseve on Feb. 20, 2015. Germany and France demanded that a crumbling Ukraine truce be "fully respected" even as pro-Russian rebels celebrated a battlefield victory in a strategic town and exchanged artillery fire elsewhere with government troops. PHOTO / ANDREY BORODULINANDREY BORODULIN/AFP/Getty Images ORIG FILE ID: 538081747 Andrey Borodulin, AFP/Getty Images

Residents line up waiting for a delivery of aid as a Russia-backed rebel guards a pile of weapons and ammunition on Feb. 20outside an administration building in Debaltseve, Ukraine.After weeks of relentless fighting, the embattled Ukrainian rail hub of Debaltseve fell on Feb. 18 to Russia-backed separatists. Vadim Ghirda, AP

A young girl leans on a cart used to carry tree branches for fire, outside a damaged apartment building in Debaltseve, Ukraine. After weeks of relentless fighting, the embattled Ukrainian rail hub of Debaltseve fell Wednesday to Russia-backed separatists. Vadim Ghirda, AP

A woman visits the temporary memorial for Maidan activists on Feb 20 in Kiev, Ukraine. The activists were killed during anti-government protests one year ago near the city's Independence Square. Sergey Dolzhenko, European Pressphoto Agency

A Russia-backed rebel looks at the flag-covered body of an Ukrainian serviceman in Debaltseve, Ukraine. After weeks of relentless fighting, the embattled Ukrainian rail hub of Debaltseve fell on Feb. 18 to Russia-backed separatists. Vadim Ghirda, AP

A man holding a Ukrainian flag stands vigil at Maidan Square in Kiev. Ukraine is commemorating the first anniversary of the Feb. 20, 2014, sniper attacks that killed dozens of protesters in the Maidan and were followed thereafter by the ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich. Sean Gallup, Getty Images

Russia-backed rebels pose by a road sign on Feb. 20, 2015, at the entrance in Debaltseve, Ukraine, after checking the access road into town for mines they suspected were laid down by retreating Ukrainian government troops. After weeks of relentless fighting, the embattled Ukrainian rail hub fell to Russia-backed separatists. Vadim Ghirda, AP

Ukrainian government soldiers who withdrew from Debaltseve prepare to return to support a further pullout of troops on Feb.19 in Artemivsk, Ukraine. Ukrainian forces began withdrawing from the strategic town on Feb. 18 after they were surrounded by pro-Russia rebels. Brendan Hoffman, Getty Images

Pro-Russia rebels fire a volley of Grad missiles at Ukrainian government troops on Feb. 18 near Debaltseve. Ukrainian troops pulled out of Debaltseve after it was stormed by pro-Russia rebels. Andrey Borodulin, AFP/Getty Images

A man tries to remove pieces of broken glass from a window in a school damaged by a Grad missile on Jan. 25 in Vostochniy, eastern Ukraine. Thirty people were killed when rockets slammed into a market, schools, homes and shops. Evgeniy Maloletka, AP

Ukrainian servicemen ride an APC in the front-line village of Orlovka near Donetsk. Pro-Russian rebels vowed to conquer more territory in eastern Ukraine and ruled out peace talks after Kiev retreated from a long-disputed airport. Oleksandr Stashevskiy, AFP/Getty Images

A local man puts out the fire at his burning house after shelling in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014. Strong explosions were heard early Sunday on the outskirts of the main rebel-held city in eastern Ukraine near the airport, raising new fears that a cease-fire signed two days ago is on the verge of collapse. Blasts powerful enough to be heard in downtown Donetsk came from the area near the airport, which has been under the control of government troops since May and has come under unremitting attacks from pro-Russia separatist rebels since then. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) ORG XMIT: XSG105 Sergei Grits AP

Personnel from the Kiev-1 police force battalion check crates of Russian-made 9M113 Konkurs portable wire-guided anti-tank missile launchers in the basement of a building in Slaviansk. Sergei Kozlov, European Pressphoto Agency

Residents of Mariupol, Ukraine, dig trenches and build fortifications with sandbags. They are assisting Ukrainian troops in organizing their defense on the outskirts of the city. Alexander Khudoteply, AFP/Getty Images

Detained Ukrainian border guards sit in a garage at the Novoazovsk border crossing point in eastern Ukraine. In Novoazovsk, pro-Russia rebel fighters looked to be in firm control after heavy shelling a day before. Sergei Grits, AP

A photograph released by DigitalGlobe via NATO on Aug. 28 allegedly shows Russian military units moving in a convoy with self-propelled artillery in the area of Krasnodon, Ukraine. DigitalGlobe/NATO, via AFP/Getty Images

A photograph provided by DigitalGlobe via NATO allegedly shows six Russian 153mm 2S19 self-propelled guns located in Russia near Kuybyshevo. This site is situated 4 miles south of the Ukraine border near the village of Chervonyi Zhovten. The guns are pointing towards Ukrainian territory. DigitalGlobe/NATO via AFP/Getty Images

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Ukraine had insisted that the Red Cross oversee the distribution of the goods.

The ICRC said on Twitter Friday that it did not join the convoy because of the "volatile security situation."

"We've not received sufficient security guarantees from the fighting parties," the ICRC said. "Our team in Luhansk reports heavy shelling overnight."

Ukraine has been wary of the convoy, fearing it could be a cover for direct Russian military action in support of the rebels. The process has been complicated by the fact that Russia chose to cross the border at a checkpoint controlled by separatists.

The Red Cross has inspected many of the trucks, which carry water, generators and sleeping bags, among other relief items.

In Kiev, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), blasted what he called a "direct invasion, under the cynical cover of the Red Cross these are military vehicles with cover documents."

Nalyvaichenko said the truck drivers are military men trained to drive combat vehicles. He claimed that half-empty trucks will be used to transport weapons to the rebels and take the bodies of Russian fighters away from eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's foreign ministry charged that its border and customs service had begun clearing the main Russian aid convoy Friday morning when it was blocked by Russian forces from inspecting other vehicles in the column.

The foreign ministry said sending vehicles into Ukraine without authorization "indicates deliberate and aggressive nature of Russia's actions."

The Ukraine foreign ministry said Kiev had issued instructions for "the safe passage of the convoy," but warned of the danger of a deliberate provocation by "terrorists" along the way.